Black Aoud

I received this as a dabber from Luckyscent. Immediately after opening the cap, I recoiled at how strong this is, not a bad thing. I absolutely love oud rose fragrances, and this is no exception. Upon first applying it, the oud does stand out for a little bit in a slightly animalic scent and then calms down after a minute and blends in with the rose, creating an almost clove-like scent with the patchouli. If you have ever smelt Portrait of a Lady by Fredric Malle, you'll find some striking resemblances. The rose and patchouli combo instantly reminded me of POAL, and I will consider purchasing this based on the insane price difference, strength, and similarity. This perfume is an absolute beast with projection, so spraying lightly is recommended, similar to POAL, that fragrance is also a beast as well. I would also say POAL is slightly more complex compared to this, but the differences are not inherently noticeable in the air. As I said, in POAL, the clove really stands out, creating an almost animalic spiciness to it in the opening, along with the dry, but slightly jammy rose; in Black Aoud, I get a similar vibe. Instead of clove, you get a slightly animalic oud along with the dry and jammy rose, followed quickly by the patchouli, creating a similar dusty but serene landscape of a quintessential oud and rose. I know POAL does not have oud in it, but I can't help but make that resemblance. All in all, this is an absolute belter of a fragrance, and considering you can find it for under 100$ on some discounters makes this remarkable. This is also my second Montale fragrance, and I am really enjoying it.

This is the type of fragrance that makes you question basically all of the other fragrances in your collection to be honest. I don't own anything that I spray on lightly, but this i can just spray 2-3 times and it literally fills a room for 8-24 hours. I have been looking for a fragrance that was this strong for a long time and I've finally found it. On top of that, it's a beautiful smell. The labdanum and oud stand out and you can even smell the mandarin orange at points and the patchouli is there the entire time. but it really is well blended and just combines to this beautiful deep smell that just keeps evolving as you wear it. The aura that this fragrance has is what I expected from the big amouage extraits like reflection man 45 which in reality turns into a weak skin scent in 20 min, this is legit eternal. I don't own a single fragrance that i would even consider comparing to this in strength. 10/10, you need a big personality because everyone will compliment you. also you can wear it in the heat.

A dark, dense, dry and powdery Red Rose, with Mandarine Orange rind on top, on a bed of Labdanum, Musk, Oud, Patchouli and Sandalwood (listed on the Brand's website as a note). This is a fragrance to which the "less is more" motto definetely applies. Three to four sprays of Black Aoud and you're good to go for the rest of the day. Labdanum is not frequently mentioned as a main note, but it's noticeable, and gives the composition a mature and masculine edge. Similar to Aoud Lime, but not redundant imo. The Amber, Iris and Saffron notes on that EDP are substituted in this one by Labdanum, Mandarine Orange and Musk. This EDP is more Rose prominent, and has more weight and depth. Mancera and Montale have released a lot o Oud/Rose combos over the years, and this rugged EDP will not be everyone's cup of tea, but it seems to stand the test of time, and retains a unique zingy character in the overcrowded Oud/Rose segment.

As a rose lover, this is one of my favorite rose-oud fragrances. I especially like the concentrated and dark rose in here. It shines as strongly as the oud, and even becomes the main note and a bit jammy in the drydown. The patchouli and labdanum are also clearly recognizable to me, they add some elegance and sophistication. When smelling Black Aoud, a fall or winter Sunday afternoon by the lake in Geneva or a stroll in Paris come to mind. I consider this to be a unisex fragrance, if not even a bit female leaning due to the strong rose. Luckily, the infamous Montale musk is in the background here. It is just strong enough to provide great performance, without interfering with the scent profile.

This one set the bar for rose ouds pretty high. It may be an acquired taste that I'm long past. I love this stuff. I got my problems with the house but this one is undeniable for me. There is that something extra there that keeps me wanting to dig my nose it. It has the "it" factor. Where I'm from this is a woman's perfume no doubt. It's dark and mysterious enough for guys that aren't afraid of rose. Last forever on clothing. Potent with great performance. I can wear it anytime of the year even though it's so strong. 1 spray can do alot of work in the heat. A dependable good value in an oversaturated world of rose ouds.